Determinants of self-rated health and the influence of healthy behaviors: results from the National Health Survey, 2013.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the determinants of self-rated health in Brazil and the influence of healthy lifestyles.

METHODS

We used data from the National Health Survey (PNS), 2013. The self-rated health was categorized as very good/good, fair, and poor/very poor. Differences in the distribution of self-rated health according to the age group and sex were tested. Logistic regression models were used to test the effects of educational level, race/skin color, and the presence of at least one noncommunicable chronic disease on poor/very poor health perception. In addition, the influence of healthy behaviors was tested controlling for the effects of sociodemographic factors and the presence of at least one chronic disease.

RESULTS

We analyzed 60,202 individuals; about 66.1% rated their health as very good/good and 5.9% as poor/very poor; about 47.1% reported the diagnosis of at least one noncommunicable chronic disease; and only 9.3% reported a "healthy lifestyle" (do not use tobacco products, consume fruits and vegetables properly, and do physical activity during leisure time). Among the sociodemographic factors, age, sex, educational level, and race were significantly associated with self-rated health and the presence of at least one chronic disease. The effects of all healthy behaviors were statistically significant even after controlling for the other determinants.

CONCLUSION

Although the adoption of healthy lifestyles in Brazil is still insufficient, the association of healthy practices with self-perception of health found in this study is an indication that the Brazilian population is beginning to relate healthy behaviors to their well-being and better health evaluation.